What are the effects of taking a chest X-ray in early pregnancy?

A chest X-ray examination requires X-rays, which are a type of electromagnetic wave. Strictly speaking, they are harmful to the human body, but the degree of harm varies. Some people will not have any adverse symptoms, while others will feel uncomfortable. This is especially serious for women in the early stages of pregnancy. This stage has a great impact on the fetus and may cause deformities, etc., so it is best to avoid chest X-rays in the early stages of pregnancy.

1. Does taking a chest X-ray in early pregnancy affect the fetus?

X-rays are electromagnetic waves with very short wavelengths and strong penetrating power. X-rays can cause certain damage to the human body, and the severity of the damage is related to the dose and location of the X-ray exposure. For pregnant women, excessive exposure to X-rays will affect the development of the fetus.

2. What are the effects of chest X-ray on the fetus?

The effects of X-rays on the fetus can easily cause embryonic disability, fetal malformations, brain malformations, and an increased risk of childhood cancer. However, exposure to X-rays in early pregnancy is usually more likely to cause serious harm, and the closer to the due date, the smaller the impact. Generally, if a pregnant woman receives an X-ray exposure of 5 radioderma, which is equivalent to 20 abdominal X-rays or 2 pelvic CT scans, the chance of fetal abnormalities in the future will increase by 40% under this dose.

It takes a week from fertilization to implantation. Excessive X-ray exposure at this time may be harmful to the fertilized egg. The early pregnancy is the period when the embryo's organs are formed. If the fetus is exposed to X-ray radiation during the 6th week of pregnancy, the incidence of fetal malformations will increase. If a pregnant mother may be pregnant after the fourteenth day, she must avoid X-ray examinations. Some doctors believe that exposure to X-rays before birth increases the chance of a baby developing leukemia. There are also articles reporting that the offspring of pregnant women who have been exposed to X-rays are four times more likely to develop leukemia than those of pregnant women who have not been exposed to X-rays. Therefore, chest X-rays should be avoided during early pregnancy.

If an X-ray examination is really necessary after the pregnancy has been going on for more than two months, a lead apron that can prevent X-rays from penetrating can be used to cover the pregnant woman's abdomen and waist. This will not harm the fetus, but the fluoroscopy time should be shortened as much as possible to reduce the amount of X-ray exposure received by the pregnant woman.

If a pregnant mother is exposed to X-rays without knowing it, she should try to keep the film records so that the doctor can help her judge the safety of the fetus.